Women Activists Bring Protests Of Electricity Power Cuts To Harare

Police in Harare arrested about 60 members of the activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise and its male counterpart Monday in Harare as the organization took its protest campaign against the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority to the capital.

Police in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, arrested some 83 WOZA members last week for protesting the state utility's continual and extended power cuts.

WOZA sources said about 600 members staged sit-ins and demonstrations at ZESA offices in the Harare districts or suburbs of Warren Park, Rugare, Kambuzuma and Dzivarasekwa. They also demonstrated in the satellite town of Chitungwiza.

Only in Kuwadzana did police move in on protesters, the WOZA sources said, alleging that two demonstrators were seriously injured while being arrested. Lawyers for those arrested were being denied access to their clients, the WOZA sources added.

WOZA National Operations Director Magodonga Mahlangu gave reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe an account of the day’s activity.

Elsewhere, a young WOZA activist who was reported missing following her arrest in Bulawayo after the demonstrations there turned up on Sunday.

Clara Makoni, 18, said she was in police hands for nearly 72 hours while being grilled as to the whereabouts of Mahlangu and National Coordinator Jenni Williams.